Food tourism is a fairly modern take on a centuries-long practice of learning about the “other” through culinary means. In the past, it was paired with the expansion of Western society and its exploration of newly discovered lands (for example, the introduction to the Eastern spice trade during the crusades or the exotic cocoa bean of the New World).
The pursuit of the “other” has since become an intellectual one, allowing tourists to explore a society’s history and culture through food. Tour subjects can range from an in depth history of a single food product, such as the interstate American Whiskey Trail, to a more spiritual experience of religious dietary laws, such as the Jewish Heritage tour in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
The C’est Si Bon Food Tour is the first to be hosted in Baton Rouge. C’est Si Bon is orchestrated by Baton Rouge Food Tours, a new tourism company founded by Baton Rouge native, Kimberly Harper. Harper has been introducing people to Louisiana cuisine since college.
“It wasn’t until I moved out of state to Arkansas for school that I realized how lucky we have it here. Freshman year I invited four of my friends down for a crawfish boil my parents were hosting. By senior year over thirty people were asking to come,” Harper said.
Harper’s interest in food tourism began in Miami while attending a tour highlighting Cuban food. By her second food tour, Harper said she knew she wanted to bring her love of southern food to the public.
“It was such a great way to experience the personality of the city,” Harper said. “The food and culture here are so unique. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Since then, Harper has toured groups from as far as Thailand and Germany around downtown Baton Rouge.
The 2-3 hour walking tour spanned seven blocks and features six tasting spots. Groups were kept reasonably small, with a fifteen person maximum to provide a more intimate experience. Southern Louisiana cuisine was shown in a variety of lights, from the more traditional duck and andouille gumbo at Stroubes to fusion inspired Southern tapas at Restaurant IPO. Throughout the tour, guests also got to see historical landmarks like the Old State Capital and St. Joseph Cathedral as well as newer beautification projects. Informational topics at each stop range from the life of Huey P. Long to the more modern Farm-to-Table movement.
“It’s fun for both visitors and locals,” Harper said. “But we’re most popular with Baton Rouge natives bringing their out-of-state friends and family.”